Bound by Blood; Chosen by Fate

Chapter Twenty-Five

*🔷*

I let out a long breath, leaning back even further as I threw a forearm over my eyes.

"What's holding him?" I asked, though the question was purely rhetorical. Knowing my audience, though, I should've realized he would reply. I glanced up at him as he frowned, answering,

"I dunno."

His eyebrows were pinched together, lips pulled into a pout. We were waiting for the third person in our group, hoping to complete the project by the end of the day. However, he wasn't showing up. He was in school today- sitting in the desk a few behind mine. Now, though, he seemed to have vanished.

I sucked in a soft breath, drawing myself upright. Glancing at my phone, I realized it was already past four.

"I guess he's not coming," I said, pinching my face in irritation. Okuyasu glanced at me, then at the door, as if by will alone he could make Koichi walk in.

I hopped to my feet.

"I'm gonna head home, I guess," I said, running a hand over the back of my hair. He stood next to me, tucking his bag under his arm.

"Yeah. Mind if I come with you?"

I gave him a side grin.

"Not at all, man."

He matched my smile with a, "cool."

We made our way outside, idle chatter passing between us as we headed towards our houses. As we talked, my gaze flit around the neighborhood, drifting over the houses and examining them.

I stopped suddenly as a flicker appeared in the house near us. The shades fluttered, though snapped shut as soon as I set my gaze on it.

"Som'in wrong bro?" Okuyasu asked, turned towards me. I frowned, watching the house.

All the houses that we'd passed so far had had their shades open, windows clear and shinning in the warm afternoon light. This one, though, had the shades drawn and the door locked tight. My gaze flicked over the sign at the entrance.

Kishibe.

I made a small humming noise, glancing back up towards the room where I'd seen the movement.

"Did you see that?" I asked. "The shades moved."

Okuyasu turned his gaze back up to it, frowning.

"Lotsa people move their shades, Josuke."

I couldn't help the frown that settled over my face, worrying my lower lip between my teeth.

"Maybe," I hesitated.

We both paused there for another moment, a shared sense of unease flickering between us. We paused as the front door opened, and a familiar form stumbled out.

"Koichi?" Okuyasu asked, blinking in shock. He straightened, glancing up at us with wide eyes. "Why'da leave earlier? Ya' left us alone to do the project," he continued.

"Oh. Sorry about that, guys," Koichi said, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck in embarrassment. He paused for a moment, brow furrowing as it seemed like he was struggling to remember something. He shook it off in the next moment. "Something came up with my family and I had to leave right away."

Okuyasu seemed to relax, nodding in understanding. My gaze fell on the sign again, the name written there that was not Koichi's.

I frowned, my sense of unease only multiplying.

"Why're you not at home, then?" I asked. He opened his mouth to reply, though his brow furrowed. Faintly,

"I... don't know."